Easter: a Hope for Living

• 04.15.2017, 20:20
•  No-politics

thefamily.com

Christ is risen from the dead!  Blessed is the resurrection of Christ!

Easter is the greatest holiday of the Armenian Church, which celebrates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Easter is a kind of symbol of the triumph over death, it is a hope for a new life to humanity. Jesus Christ was crucified on Friday, after which his body was buried in a cave tomb. As BBC writes, the tomb was guarded by Roman Soldiers and an enormous stone was put over the entrance. On Sunday, Mary Magdalene and other Mary went to visit the tomb and found the stone removed and the Jesus’ body not there. A two angel appeared and declared that Jesus has risen. The angels told the women to go and tell disciples that he has risen from the dead; and now he is going to Galilee. In a great joy the women hurried to tell everyone the wonderful news. On their way they met Jesus, who told the women not to be afraid and to say his disciples to meet him in Galilee. Eleven disciples hurried to Galilee, where seeing Jesus, they fell down to worship him. As it is written in newadvent.org, Jesus said to his disciples "you must go out, making disciples of all nations, and baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Easter marks the end of 40-days of Lent, days of lasting, moderation and spiritual discipline in preparation for Easter. These are the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert. It is celebrated on Sunday that is immediately followed by full moon.

As qahan.am writes, according to Church tradition, the new day begins following the Evening Service, when Divine Liturgy is celebrated, at the end of which the good tiding of the glorious resurrection of the Savior is proclaimed: "Christ is Risen from the dead; Blessed be the Resurrection of Christ!"  The period of the Great Lent is thus concluded. 

Easter, besides being a religious holiday, is also a family holiday. On this holiday people color Easter eggs, especially in red, which symbolizes the blood of Christ. Families gather around a table and play eggs, hit the other player’s egg, the one, who wins, gets the egg of the loser.

"According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (1 Peter 1:3)